Machine for assembling spouts to containers



Jan. 20, 1942.

J. M. HQTHERSALL MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SPOUTS TO CONTAINERS Filed April12, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l mam k @QQQQQQ INVENTO Jan. 20, 1942.HQTHERSALL 2,270,300

MACHINE FOR. ASSEMBLING SPOUTS TO CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1939 sSheets-Sheet 2 llul lli ll M ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1942. J. M. HOTHERSALL2,270,300

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SPQUTS TO CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1959 eshe'etsL-sheet 3 ATTORNE 5 Jan. 20, 1942. J HQTHERSALL 2,270,300

MACHINE FOR'ASSEMBLING SPOUTS TO CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1939 6Sheets-Sheet. 5 v

- A ATTQRNEY6 v Evening Jan. 1942- J. M. HOTHERSALL I 2,270,300

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING SPOU'I'S TO CONTAINERS Filed April 12, 1939 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Jiz'gr 6- 1 ATTO Patented Jan. 20, 1942 MACHINE FORASSEMBLING SPOUTS '10 CONTAINERS John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y.,assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application April 12, 1939, Serial No. 267,481 01. 29-33) 11Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for securing preformed spoutsto a wall of a container or can and has particular reference to anassembling machine in which preformed spouts are secured in place in acup-necked can nozzle by a squeezing operationthat reforms parts of bothspout and container neck, such a spout and neck preferably being of thetype disclosed in my issued Patent No. 2,167,654, granted August 1,1939, for Method of securing soft metal spouts to containers.

An object of the invention is the provision of an assembling ,machinewhich includes automatically operating devices for securely squeezingthe spout and can parts in a joint forming operation while the spout andcan are held in proper alignment and in fully seated position.

A further object is the provision in a machine of this characterofautomatic testing mechanism by means of which the absence of a can andspout or the improper association of the same is detected to the endthat other devices function to stop the machine until the deficiency issupplied.

Numerous other objects and advantages of th invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying.

drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, parts being broken away to show more clearly certain of theoperating mechanism; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional View partially in front elevation takensubstantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal yertical section taken substantially along theline 3-3 in Fig. 1, and showing certain of the spout and can holding,squeezing and. assembling operating parts;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken in the same plane and showing apart of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 3, certain of the operatin partsbeing in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 55 in Fig. 1 and illustrating the cap applying device;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the testing device as viewed along thebroken line 6--8 in Fig. 1; y

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away anddrawn to a smaller scale; and

- Fig. 8 is. a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 2 andshowing certain details of the driving mechanism;

The apparatus'disclosed in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is adapted to receive filled containers or cans inprocessional order. The type of canshown and described herein isdesignated by'the letter a and is preferably formed with a nozzleextension 11 which .is adapted to seat a soft metal spout 0. The top ofthe spout c is formed to be closed by a threaded cap d. Each can a withits supported spout c loosely resting in the nozzle b on which isloosely placed the cap d, is admitted one by one into a pocket ofanintermittently movable, horizontally disposed turret and while in theturret is positioned at various operating stations and is subjected toseveral operations which result in finally securing the can, spout andcap in liquid-tight relations thereby scaling in the can contents whichmaybe oil or other liquid, following which the completely assembledfilled can is automatically discharged from the turret.

As best illustrated in Fig; l the cans a coming into the machine arecarried in processional order on a feedin belt conveyor A. The row ofcans is intermittently arrested in its travel with the conveyor A by anescapement B which admits each can singly to an initial position beneatha testing device C (see also Fig. 2). The

' testing device C operates upon two adjacent cans a so that each can istested twice, with a can in front and upon being moved into a secondtesting position, with the can following. Moving the can after its firsttest and before its second places it into a pocket of the intermittentlymovable horizontally disposed turret.

After the second test, partial rotation of the turret carries the can aand its parts into a spout centering station D (Figs. 1 and 2). With thespout c and its cap d fully aligned or centered with the axis of thecan, at the next step movement ofthe turret the can parts are introducedinto a joint forming station E (Figs. 3 and '4). Here the neck or nozzlepart b of the can is squeezed over the lower part of the spout c at thesame time reforming the engaged portion of the spout thus producing atight connection between the can and the spout. This constitutes thefirst joint.

The next step rotation of the turret introduces 7 the can with its nowattached spout into a cap securing station F (Fig. '5). Here the cap atis rotated into threaded position on the top or upper end of the spout.This provides a second joint.

The fifth and sixth stations of the turret are idle stations and nooperation takes place upon the can, spout or can. At the next followingstep rotation of the turret, however, this being at the seventh station,the closed can is sub- Jected to an ejecting or discharging operationwhich places each can onto a discharge table H a it leaves the turret.Table H receives the completely assembled and sealed cans in a row, fromwhich they may be removed. as desired.

The general form of mechanism of the present invention may be likened toa conventional type of press consisting of frame, crank shaft, slide andcrosshead and in which the turret constitutes a part of the can feed.This press frame is indicated generally by the numeral H and theoperating parts of the machine are driven by any suitable prime moversuch as a motor l2 (Fig. '7) which effects rotation of a fly wheel l3,through the medium of a belt l4 associated with a crank shaft.

In general there are two main shafts from which the several devices andmechanisms more directly derive their power. This includes an upperhorizontal main drive or crank shaft l5 which carries the fly wheel l3and a lower horizontal drive shaft l6. The upper crank shaft I5 isjoumaled in bearings 2| formed in the top of uprights 23 of the pressframe H and the shaft is held in place by bearing caps 25. This is ausual press construction.

The fly wheel I3 preferably carries parts of a conventional slip clutchconnection which connects or disconnects the fly wheel with and from thedrive shaft l5. This is a well known feature in press manufacture and itis thought need not be specifically detailed. At the other side of themachine the shaft |5 carries a sprocket 21 which is used for powerconnection with the lower shaft l6.

Shaft H5 is journaled in bearings 28 (Fig. 2) formed in a tableextension 3| of the frame The shaft l6 extends beyond its hearings onboth sides. On the end of the shaft to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, ismounted a sprocket 32. A chain 33 which takes over both sprockets 21 and32 (see also Fig. 7) provides a chain drive between the upper and lowershafts.

An intermediate horizontal shaft 34 journaled in a single bearing 35formed in the frame I I also derives its driving power through the chain33. For this purpose the end of the shaft 34 which extends 0n theoutside of the bearing 35 carries a sprocket 36 which engages with thechain 33.v Thus it will be observed that the chain 33 provides forsynchronous rotation of the three shafts I5, I6 and 34.

In addition to the usual form of clutch for the fly wheel l3 alreadymentioned, there is also provided a hand brake for the shaft |5. Such abrake is also a usual part of a press and in this description will beonly briefly mentioned. It is designated broadly by the numeral 31, inFig. '7 and operates in the usual manner, that is, the brake is appliedto the crank shaft when the clutch of the flywheel is disengaged. Thebrake releases from the shaft when the clutch connects the fly wheelwith the crank, shaft.

The throwing in of the clutch is effected by a trip or foot treadle 38(Fig. '7) pivoted at 39 to the frame H. The treadle is connected by.means of a rod 4| with atreadle arm 42 and a second rod 43 connects thetreadle arm with an arm 44 secured to a rock shaft 45. Shaft 45 isjournaled in suitable bearings formed in the frame of the machine andalso carries a lever arm 46 having connection with a link rod 41.

One end of the rod 41 is pivotally connected at 48 to a clutch control,generally indicated by the numeral 49. Such a clutch control operateswith the clutch of the fly wheel l3 in the well known manner and furtherdetail of this feature is thought unnecessary. It will be understoodthat depression of the foot treadle 38 connects the crank shaft |5 withthe rotating fly wheel l3 and at the same time the brake 31 is released.Release of the foot treadle has the opposite efiect on clutch and brake.

Provision is made for holding the brake in released position during thenormal operation of the machine regardless of the foot actuation of thefoot treadle. A lever 52 is provided which may be a forward extension ofthe treadle arm 42, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. The treadlearm with its extension is preferably pivotally mounted on a shorthorizontal shaft 53 so that when the treadle 38 is depressed and the arm42 is lowered, the extension 52 is raised. The forward end of theextension 52 is notched as indicated at 54 (see also Fig. 8) and thisend at the time the foot treadle is depressed, is raised to permitengagement with a release catch device by means of which the brake andthe clutch are maintained in proper operating position for a full cycleindependent of actuation of the foot treadle 38.

The release catch comprises an arm 56 which is mounted on a rock shaft51 journaled in a bearing 58 formed in a bracket extending up from thetable extension 3|. The shaft 5'! also carries an arm 59 which extendsdown through the table extension. A spring 60 is connected with the arm,one end of the spring being secured to the table extension. This springnormally holds the rock shaft 51 in the position shown in Fig. 8 so thatits arm 56 is engaged in the notch 54 of the extension 52. This holdsthe treadle parts in the position shown in Fig. 7, which is theoperating position for the machine.

Provision is made for manually stopping the machine when desired bydrawing back the arm 56 of the catch device and disengaging it from thenotch 54 of the arm extension 52. A safety stop rod 6| (Fig. 8) ishorizontally disposed below the table extension 3| and is mounted toslide in a front bearing 62 and a rear bearing 63, each bearing being anintegral part of the table extension. Rod 6| carries a collar 64 and aspring 65 is interposed between the bearing 63 and this collar.

This normally holds the rod out or to the right as viewed in Fig. 8 andin this position a button head 66 on the front end of the rod is spacedaway from the front of the machine and is in a convenient position to bepushed in by the operator of the machine. A second collar 6'! secured tothe inner end of the rod 6| provides a stop for this outer position ofthe safetyrod. The inner end of the rod 6| provides an abutment for thelower end of the arm 59 which is at all times held against the end ofthe rod by the spring 60.

When the button head 66 of the rod 6| is pressed in by the operator andthe rod is slid to the left (Fig. 8 it rocks the arms 59, 56 and alsothe rock shaft 51 in a clockwise direction. This moves the arm 56 out ofengagement with the arm extension 52 and the foot treadle being nolonger held thereupon moves up into a non operated position. Thislifting of the foot treadle 38 and the rods 4|, 43 and correspondingmovementof parts connected therewith is effected by expansion of aspring- 68 which'is a part of the clutch control mechanism 43. When notblocked by the release catch device just described this spring 68besides holding the foot treadle in unoperated position also holds thebrake 31 in braking position on the crank shaft.

Considering now the machine parts more in detail, the conveyor Acomprises an endless belt 16 (Fig. 2) which takes over and is driven bya pulley 11 carried on ahorizontal drive shaft 18 (see also Fig. 3).This shaft is journaled in bearings 19, extending down from the tableextension and forming a part of the frame of the machine.

The upper run of the belt 16 constitutes the of the cans. I

The can coming into the final testing position also enters into a pocketH of a horizontal turret III (Figs... 1,2 and 3).

. first be considered since it is effective in determining theexactposition of the two cans being It is also slid over the table when movedfrom place to place being held in the turret pocket by a circular guiderail H2 supported by brackets mounted on the table.

over a feed table 80 of the table extension 3|;

Guide rails 8| mounted on suitable brackets 82 secured to the feedtable, keep the cans a ina straight line of travel, the t'wo foremostcans in the line being in testing position and still on the belt as willbe further explained.

The pulley I1 is rotated with its shaft 18 through suitable connectionwith the intermediate shaft 34. For this purpose the shaft I8 (Fig.

,3) at one end carries a bevel gear 83 which meshes with a correspondinggear 84 keyed to the shaft 34.

As a can of the row ofcans a approaching testing position passes theescapement mechanism B the next following can is engaged and the row ofcans pauses, the belt sliding beneath but not advancing the cans. I

The escapement'comprises a bell crank lever 9| having a long finger 92(Fig. 1) and a short finger 93, the bell crank lever being mounted forrockingmovement on a vertical pin 94. This pin is carried in a bracket35 mounted on the table extension 3|.

The short arm 93 is connected by a link 96 with a horizontally disposedlever arm 91 which is secured to a vertical rock shaft 98 carried in abracket 99 extending laterally from the table extension. A spring I00is. interposed between the arm 9'! and a pin on the table extension andto the end of the shaft I8 opposite to the gear 83.

Cam- III3 is formed with a raised portion I04 which during onerevolution of the shaft 34 engages and pushes out the roller I02 so asto rock The turret is mounted on a vertical shaft H3, the-shaft at itsupper end being reduced in diameter as best shown in Fig. 3 where it iskeyed to, the hub of the turret. A locknut I I4 isthreaded on the upperend of the shaft H3 and this securely holds'the turret against theshoulder of the shaft. The shaft at its lower end extends through abearing H5 formed as an integral, downwardly extending part of thetable,extension 3|. Below this bearing the shaft carries the driven partof a Geneva mechanisim the driving part being primarily effectivethrough prope connection with the lower drive shaft I6.

This disc carries a series of tapered rollers H'I which are mounted onthe lower ends ofpins H8. The pins are threadedly secured in fixedposition in the Geneva disc. These pins are held in place by locknutsand are equally spaced the arm IIII and its shaft 98. This moves theshort arm 92 of the bell crank lever out of the path oftravel of thecans and permits the row of cans to move forward one can space.

When a can a is first released by the bell crank lever escapement deviceand moves forward with the belt I6, it comes to rest in the firsttesting position. Atthe end of the first testing opera- I tion this canmoves forward into the second or final testing station and the-nextfollowing can is then in the first testing position. After the machineis once started it will be observed that there are always two cans inposition for testing,

around the periphery of the Geneva disc in a well known manner.

The drive shaft I6 carries a mutilatedbarrel cam or Geneva drive I I9which is formed with an interrupted groove I2I adapted to engage one ofthe tapered rollers H1 and to shift 1 the roller so that the Geneva discH6 and the shaft H3,

as well as the turret III, are caused to be held I for a rest period orare moved in a step rotation in order to advance the turret pockets I I0so that the cans contained therein will be properly presented for thevarious operations of the machine.

Brief reference has already been made to the usual press constructionused in the apparatus shown in the drawings. The crank shaft I5 actuatesthev usual form of crosshead, designated by the numeral I22 (Figs; 2 and7), which is operated from the crank shaft through the medium of apitman I23. The crosshead I22 slidesup and down in suitable guidewaysformed in the frame uprights 23 and carries operating parts associatedwith the various stations. Slide gibs I24 screwed to the uprights 23retain the crosshead in sliding condition.

Much of the mechanism C used for testing the two cans at the end of theconveyor belt 16 is carried by and moves up and down-with the crossheadI22. Some of the parts are yieldingly The testing device C is mounted ona bracket extension I25 which may be an integral part of the crossheadI22. This bracket extension is enlarged into a vertically extending bossI26 which provided there is no interruption in the feedin This turretwill A Geneva disc H6 (Figs. 2 and 3) is keyed to and is bolted on thelower end of the shaft H3.

provides a slide seat for and which encloses a cylindrical block I21. Avertically disposed rod I28 extends into the vblock and is clamped atits upper end by a clamp nut.

Rod I28 also extends down through an opening I29 in the bottom of bossI26 and an enlarged lower head I30 of the rod is pivotally connected atI3I to the free end of a lever I32. The lever I32 is loosely mounted onthe release catch rock shaft 51 and when moved far enough, as when canor can parts deficiency is detected in either or both of the two testingstations, it shifts the release catch arm 56.

A short projection I33 extends up from the lever I32 adjacent itsmounting on the shaft 51 and when the lever I32 makes its full movement,this projection strikes against a setscrew I34 threaded in a short leverarm I35 fixed on the rock shaft and moves the lever arm and shaft thusthrowing out the release catch arm 56 and stopping the machine. Thismoving of the lever I32 for either a short stroke, which will not engagethe parts I33, I34, or for its full stroke when it stops the machine,will now be considered.

At the top and front, the cylindrical block I21 is formed with a bracketI36 (Figs. 2 and 6) which projects forward through aslot I31 cut in theboss I26. This bracket provides a connection with testing elements whichare brought down with each lowering of the crosshead I22 to strikeagainst the two spout caps of the cans in the initial and in the finaltesting positions at the forward end of the belt 18. Obviously if thereis no can with its spout and cap in the proper testing position therewill be no engagement of the testing elements.

A cam detecting strike block MI is pivotally mounted at I42 on the lowerend of a vertically disposed bar I43 which at its upper end is securedin fixed position on the bracket I36. The lower end of the strike blockis grooved as a. I44 and it is this lower surface which is engaged bythe cap d of a can a at either of the two testing positions.

When two cans a with spouts c and caps d are in the proper positions fortesting and when the crosshead I22 descends, the strike block I movesdown and engages the two caps as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The two cans inthis instance stop further descent of the strike block and the partsI43, I36, I21, I28 and lever I32 come to rest. This constitutes theshort stroke of the lever previously referred to and is not sufficientto disconnect the release catch arm 56 from the lever 52.

This however, is not the full movement of the crosshead I22 andtherefore the bracket extension I25 continues its downward travel, theboss I26 moving down over the now stationary cylindrical block I21. Aspring I46 is mounted on the rod I28 being confined between the rod headI38 and the bottom of the boss and this spring is compressed during thiscontinuance of the downward travel of the boss.

The two cans a with their spouts and caps, being the same height, thestrike block I4I remains in a horizontal position (Fig. 2) for thattesting cycle. If however only one can spout and cap is present ineither the first or second testing positions, such a can part is engagedas before but with the further downward movement of the crosshead, thestrike block shifts on its pivotal mounting I42. The engaged side beingblocked by the can, remains uppermost as the strike block moves into aninclined position.

Since the rod I28 moves down its full distance at such a time, the leverI32 is moved for its full stroke and this throws out the.release catcharm 56 through the parts I33, I34, I35 and by reason of the rocking ofthe shaft 51. Obviously the same long strok will be brought about andthe release catch arm 56 will move if both testing positions are devoidof cans for here again there is nothing to stop the downward movement ofthe strike block I4I. Thus it will be seen that the machine stops if twocans are not properly positioned.

Provision is made for preventing this disengagement of the treadle lever52 from the catch arm through actuation of the lever I32 except inproper time with the descent of the crosshead I22. The same mechanismalso provides for raising of the lever, after it has been depressed,independently of the raising of the crosshead. This will now beconsidered.

The lever I32 (Fig. 6) carries a cam roller I 48 and the table 3I is cutaway at I49 directly beneath the roller. Into this opening the upperpart of a cam I50 extends. Cam I50 is keyed to the shaft 34 and when theroller I48 is moved down into the opening with rocking of the arm I32 itengages the periphery of the cam.

The cam is flattened at I5I and it is only when this fiat section ispresented at the top during the rotation of the cam, as shown in Fig. 6,that the lever arm can make its full stroke. At any other time the camacts as a barrier and prevents sufiicient movement of the lever todisconnect the parts 56, 51. In addition to this timing function, thecam also acts to again restore the lever I32 and its connected parts andto bring it into raised position as rotation of the cam passes the fiatsection beyond the cam roller.

It will be recalled that the can at the final testing station is also ina pocket III) of the turret I I I. At the next step rotation of theturret, this tested can is moved into the spout centering station D. Thecentering of the spout on the central axis of the can is efiected by asimple sleeve device carried on the crosshead I22 and best illustratedin Figs. 1 and 2. d

' The crosshead I22 carries a bracket I53, which is on the same side asthe bracket extension I25, and a vertically disposed centering rod I54is mounted on the bracket. At its lower end, the rod is hollow, therebeing a central bore I55 having a fiared mouth I56 at the bottom. Thecan when at rest at station D is directly in axial alignment with therod I54 and as the latter moves down with the lowering of the crosshead,the cap it enters the flared mouth of the bore and the tapered walls ofthe latter center both cap and spout c on the can.

A pressure pin I51 is slidably disposed in the bore I55 and is backed upby a spring I58 confined within the bore above the pin. A stop key I59extends transversely of the centering rod I54 and across the edge of thebore and the pressure pin is flattened at I6I along the adjacent side sothat this pin can move in a restricted range but cannot be pushed out bythe spring. As the centering rod first comes down over the can spout andcap the lower end of the pressure pin strikes against and presses downon the cap holding it securely in aligned position. The pressure pinalso acts to disengage the cap from head I22 and therefore moves up anddown with it. Part is carried on the press frame If at the base of theuprights 23. This is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The crosshead I22 carries a cam wedge I65 which is formed at its upperend into a stem I66.. This stem is clamped securely in place on thecrosshead by a bearing clamp I61. The

crosshead also carries a rear cam plate I68 and a front cam plate I69and these parts cooperating with the cam wedge I65 provide thecontrolled movement for the joint forming elements.

The joint forming devices comprise a rear squeezer jaw I1I (Figs. 1, 3and 4) and a front squeezer jaw I12. Each jaw is formed with a pair ofside arms I13, those of the rear jaw extending forward while the frontjaw arms project to the back and overlap the other arms where they arealongside each other (Fig. 4). This provides for pivotal mounting of thelaws on a pair of axially aligned but spaced apart pivot pins-I14, onebeing on each side. I

The pivot pins I14 are mounted in side walls I15 of a bracket I18 whichis bolted to the frame II at the baseof the frame upright 23. Thismounting holds the jaws in the same horizontal plane but allows fortheir pivotal movement on the pins I14. Such a pivotal movement, broughtabout when the crosshead descends, gives a squeezing action which iseffective on the nozzle b of the can a at station E and also effectiveon the base of the spout c where it is enclosed in the nozzle. This willbe further explained.

The squeezer jaws I1I, I12 at their lower inner ends are hollowed out indie pockets I11, each having a cylindrical inner wall. Each jaw alsoextends up above its side arms I13 in spaced lugs I18. Each pair of lugsat their upper ends are tied together by a pin I19 which provides ashaft for a cam roller I8I.

The cam roller I8I for the rear jaw IN is disposed in a cam track I82formed by stepped and inclined parallel cam surfaces formed by the rearface of the came wedge I65 and the front face of the cam plate I68. Inthe same Part of the way the front jaw roller I8I is disposed in a camtrack I83 formed by stepped and inclined parallel cam surfaces of the.front face of the cam wedge I65 and the rear face of the cam plate I69.

The two c'am tracks I82, I83 are symmetrical as to the vertical axis ofthe cam wedge so that as the crosshead I22 moves up and down and slidesthe cam track surfaces alongside of the rollers I8I, the two jaws I1I,I12 are moved in down, the can cap d and spout 0 enter this bore I85,the camwedge moving down until its lower rim strikes the nozzle b. Atthe same time the squeezer jaws III, I12 move in as their rollers I 8|are separated by riding on the inclined sections of the cam tracks I82,I83.

Fig. 3 shows the fully closed position of the squeezer jaws, the closedjaws completely confining the can nozzle parts. When closed thecylindrical walls of the die pockets I11 strike against the reducedcylindrical wall of the lower end I84 of the cam wedge andthe ends ofthe jaws below these pockets (designated by the numeral I86) slip inunder the recessed part of the can nozzle and provide an anvil againstwhich the nozzle b of the cana is forced vertically by the descendingcam wedge. The lower rim of the cam wedge section I84 squeezes the spoutand nozzle parts together in a vertical thrust.

The coming together of the jaws I1I, I12, squeezes the nozzle andconfined spout base laterally so that the soft metal spout is reformedand the nozzle is bent in and closely pressed against the spout as ittoo is reshaped. This produces a tightly sealed joint and completes theassembly of can and spout.

At the next step movement of the turret III, the can a and its tightlyjoined spout a on which the cap d is still loosely resting, are broughtinto the cap securing station F. Here the can is di-" side opposite tothe bracket extension I25. This bracket extends down'in aposition belowand alongside of the cam wedge I where it is enlarged in a boss I92.inwhich the cap securing device is carried.

The cap (I is rotated in the proper direction to tightly screw it downon its threaded connection with the spout 0 while the can a is at restat the station F. As the crosshead descends a spring held friction cupI95 is brought down over the cap, this cup'having a conical hollow seatI96 at its lower end, the walls of which frictionally engage over thecap as best shown in Fig. 5.

The cup I95 is located inside of a securing head I91, the lower end ofthe cup extending through an opening in the bottom of the head. Thishead is a mere sleeve which is threaded at its upper end over a screwplug I98 carried on the lower end of a vertically disposed ratchet shaftI99 which in "turn extends up through the boss and out together as theyrock on the pivot pins The crosshead is up and in the position of Fig. 4when the can a is brought to rest in station E. At that time the rollersI8I are closest together and the lower ends of the jaws I1I,

I12 are at their widest separation.

The lower end of the cam wedge I65 as .at

. I84 (Figs. 3 and 4) is reduced to the diameter of the can nozzle b anda central bore I (Fig. 3) extends up vertically from the terminal end ofthe reduced cam wedge section. As the descending crosshead I22 carriesthe cam wedge The cup member frictionally engages over the can cap. dand as the. securinghead I91 turns under the influence of the ratchetitrotates the cap down on its threaded connection with the upper end ofthe spout. The cup however is not secured to the head sleeve but isfrictionally held so that as long as the cap d turns freely on thethreads of the spout, the cup will turnwith the zontal transverse bore2ll6 extending in from one side of the cup member I95. This spring bearsagainst the head and is mounted on the body of a sliding pin 291 alsolocated in the spring bore. 1

The outer face of the head of the pin pressed against the inner wall ofthe sleeve head I91 and provides the desired friction. A thrust ball I299 is disposed between the top surface of the cup member I95 and thelower end of the ratchet shaft I99 and creates an anti-frictionalelement for the top of the cup which may thus be pressed down forciblywithout greatly affecting the friction exerted by the spring 205. It isthe downward movement of the crosshead by reason of a standard ratchetconstruction that imparts rotation to the ratchet shaft I99 and to thesecuring head. This feature of operation and also details of the ratchetparts will now be further explained.

The ratchet shaft is formed with a helical groove 299 and a ratchetcollar 2III surrounds the shaft and is formed with an internal threadsection which projects into and operates within the groove 209 of theshaft. The collar is held against vertical movement relative to the bossI92 but is carried bodily up and down with the crosshead I 22. It isconfined within a housing unit 2| I which is frictionally mounted withinthe boss I92.

The boss I92 is vertically apertured in a lower bore H2 and a largerupper counter-bore 2I3. This provides a seat for the ratchet unit andits housing unit 2| I. The housing unit comprises a bushing 2 I4 formedwith a head 2I5. Its central opening designated by the numeral 2I5provides a loose bearing for the ratchet shaft I99.

A sleeve 2 I I is mounted on the lower end of the bushing and is held inplace by a pin 2I9. In assembling the housing unit within the boss I92.the unit is inserted from above and the head 2I5 of the bushing 2 I4 isseated against the shoulder formed at the junction of the twodiametersof the bores 2I2, 2I3. The lower ends of the sleeve and the bushingextend down in the smaller or lower bore to a position just beyond thebottom of the boss I92.

The bushing 2| 4 is counter-bored as at 2I9 to provide a pocket for thecollar 2III and a locknut 229 is threaded into the lower end of thebushing and in its counter-bore. The enlarged head of this nut engagesunder and looks with the end of the sleeve 2 I1 when the nut is screweddown tight against the bottom of the bushing 2. There is sufficientdistance between the head 2I5 of the bushing and the outer edge of thehead of the locknut where it extends beyond the bushing and sleeve andunder the boss I92,

to loosely confine the ratchet unit within the boss.

The ratchet collar 2 I II, within the pocket of the housing unit 2| I,is-free to turn in one direction only. The housing unit normally remainsstationary within the boss I92 but can slip in its seat should unduestrain be applied to cause its rotation. An abnormal locking of theratchet unit may bring about such a condition. This housing unit,however, is frictionally held so that normally it will not rotate withinits seat.

The boss I92 is formed with a hollow extension 222 in which is disposedthe frictional elements to normally retain the housing in non-rotativeposition. These friction elements comprise a friction block 223 whichcarries a pin 224 having loose sliding fit within a plug 225 threaded inthe end of the opening formed in the extension 222. The inner face ofthe friction block is curved to construction such as is found in ratchetscrew drivers, ratchet drills, etc. This latch element prevents rotationof the collar 2I0 in one direction but permits it to rotate in theopposite direction. It is when the cross head I22 is being lowered andwhen the securing head I91 and its friction cup I95 is engaging the cap11 of the can,

that the latch element prevents turning of the A collar.

Collar 2I0 is formed with spaced lugs or pro- 'jections 229 and it isthese projections which function to stop rotation of the collar in thewrong direction. A leaf spring 229 is located in the slot 221 of thebushing 2I4 and bears against the inner wall of the sleeve 2I1. Thisspring is secured to a vertically disposed locking plate 239 which isalso located within the slot 221, and which is off-center from thecollar 2").

Under the pressure of the spring 229, this looking plate 239 acts as abarrier for lug 228 on the collar when the latter starts to move in thereverse direction as when the securing head first engages the cap d ofthe can. This engagement takes place during the descent of the crosshead I22 and at such time the internal thread formed on the collartraverses the helical groove 209 of the ratchet shaft I99, the collar2I9 being held against rotation by the latch. The ratchet shaft rotatesas a result and with it the friction head I91. This screws on the cap.

When the crosshead I22 returns on its upward stroke the friction headI91 disengages the can cap d and thereupon the collar 2III is free torotate in a reverse direction. The spring pressed locking plate 239 isthen ineffective as the spring 229 yields with the passingof each lug228 of the rotating collar. This revers rotation of the collar is theresult of the ratchet shaft I99 moving down relative to the rising bossI92 and the walls of its helical groove 209 bear against and move alongthe internal thread of the collar.

The ratchet shaft I99 is so lowered while the crosshead is rising, underthe action of a spring 235 which is seated on the top of the shaft. Thisspring and the upper end of the shaft are confined within a tubularhousing 236 which is carried on the boss I92, the lower end of thishousing seating within the upper or counter-bore 2; of the boss. A lookscrew 231 threaded in the side of the boss engages the lower insertedend of the housing and holds it tightly in place.

A headed pin 2 extends into the upper section of the spring and anadjusting screw 242 threaded in the upper end of housing 236 permits adesired adjustment for the compression of the spring. This screw may beheld in adjusted position by a suitable lock nut 243.

It will be understood that when the crosshead is descending and as theratchet unit'is moving down over the rotating but vertically heldratchet shaft I99, that the spring 235 is being compressed. This allowsfor a greater length of the shaft within the housing 236.

The next following two step movements of the turret III carry the fullyassembled can, spout and cap through two idle stations. At such time nowork is done on the can. The can is then brought to rest at thedischarge station G and is ready to be ejected from the turret pocket.

A bell crank lever 25l (Figs. 1 and 3) is disposed to move in ahorizontal plane over the table ,extension 3|. a long arm 25201 the bellcrank extending in between an upper and lower section of the turret l ll. The bell crank lever is rocked on a vertically disposed stud 253mounted on the table extension. It is yieldingly held down against thetop of the table by a spring 254 which surrounds the stud above the bellcrank. The spring is confined on top by a washer 255 held by a nut 256threaded on the stud. This construction prevents undue swinging of thebell,

crank lever.

.The long arm 252 of the bell crank lever is formed at its outer endinto a can engaging pad 258 and when the can comes to rest at station Gthis pad is just inside of the can, this being the position shown inFig. 1. Accordingly when the bell crank is rocked on its pivotalmounting 253, the pad engages the inner edge of the can and sweeps itout of the turret pocket landing the can on the discharge table H.

The bell crank lever 25l is also formed with a short arm 26l and itstimed rocking movement is effected by a suitable connection with a camactuated discharge slide 262 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is also used toengage a can a after it has been removed from the turret pocket and toalign and advance the cans through the discharge table H. Thisconnection between the bell crank lever arm and the slide is madethrough the medium of a link 263.

One end of the link 263 is pivotally mounted -on a pin 264 carried bythe slide and its other end, which is slotted at 265, passes over a pin266 held in the forked end of the short arm 26L The movement of thedischarge slide 262 is in excess of that needed to rock the bell cranklever forits discharge stroke and this extra movement is taken up by theslotted end of the link 263 moving on its pin 266. This slack connectionserves another purpose. It permits the forward end of the slide 262 tomove back out of alignment with the turret pocket before the can isejected onto,

the discharge table by actuation of the bell crank lever 25L Thedischarge slide 262 is cam actuated by spaced guide blocks 261 (Fig. 3)formed as integral parts of the table extension 3| between which theslide moves. Slide gibs 268 bolted on top of the blocks and overhangingthe slide prevent upward dislocation.

The slide is cam actuated in the following manner. A depending lug 2"(Figs. 2 and 3) projects down from the under surface of the slide andextends through a slotted opening 212 out through the table extension3|. The lug is pivotally connected at 213 to one end of an adjustableconnecting rod 214. Rod 214 at its other end is pivotally connected tothe upper end of a lever arm 215 (see also Fig. 8) which is keyed to oneend of. a horizontal rock shaft 216.

This rock shaft is journaled in an elongated boss which may be anintegral part of the table extension 3|. An arm 218 is also keyed to therock shaft 216 at its other end. The free end of this arm carries a pin219 on which rotates a cam roller 28L This cam roller operates in a camgroove 282 formed in the peripheral surface of a barrel cam 284 which ismounted upon and which is driven by the lower drive shaft l6.

Referring again to Fig. 1 which shows the slide 262 ready to be movedback, it will be observed that the completely assembled can a is in itscan and pushes the can along the table H and in between a pair of spacedL-shaped guide rails 288 (Figs. 1 and 8) mounted on the table extension3|. These rails keep the cans in processional order on the dischargetable H and each discharged can coming into the row pushes the cans,ahead on the forward stroke of the slide.

A single or a number of cans may be taken off from the end of the lineas desired or the forward end of the row may extend on into anothermachine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from' the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spiritand scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely 'a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for assembling soft metal spouts to cup-shaped neckportions of containers in leak-proof joints, the combination of meansfor progressively conveying the containers and spouts in looselyassembled relation to a plurality of spaced operating stations, meansfor successively advancing the containers and spouts while in suchloosely assembled relation into said conveying means, and devices at oneof said stations and cooperating with said conveying means forsuccessively engaging and operating on said cupshaped neck portions ofthe containers and adjacent portions of the spouts seated therein andwhich enter into the joint, by simultaneously tainer, and joint formingdevices cooperating with said advancing means for engaging and bendinginwardly the wall of said positioned cupsh'aped neck portion andsimultaneously compressing and reshaping the included base of said spoutto provide a leak-proof joint.

3. In a machine for securing in a leak-proof joint a preformed spout toa container having an open cup-shaped nozzle portion, the combination ofmeans for advancing said container and advancing means for engaging andbending in wardly the peripheral wall of said cup-shaped nozzle portionand simultaneously compressing and reshaping the engaged portion of thespout to provide a tight-fitting leak-proof joint.

4. In a machine for assembling spouts to containers in leak-proofjoints, the combination of a turret member having peripheral pocketstherecn and provided with means for intermittently rotating the same,means for successively feeding containers with loosely assembled spoutsthereon into the pockets of said turret while the latter is s'afionary,means cooperating with and disposed adjacent said turret for aligningand centering the container and spout relative to one another inpreparation for final assembly and while the turret is stationary, andmeans cooperating with and disposed adjacent said turret member forengaging said container and spout for squeezing and deforming the sameinto tight fitting interlocking engagement.

5. A machine for uniting in leak-proof joints preformed spouts tocontainers having open cupshaped neck portions, comprising incombination: a turret member having peripheral pockets thereon andprovided with means for intermittently rotating the same, means forsuccessively feeding said containers with the spouts loosely seatedtherein into pockets of said turret while the latter is stationary,means cooperating with and disposed adjacent said turret for aligningand centering the spout relative to said container in preparation forfinal assembly, means cooperating with and disposed adjacent said turretfor engaging and squeezing the peripheral wall of said container cupneck and the base of said centered spout into tight-fitting interlockingengagement, and means disposed adjacent and cooperating with said turretfor ejecting the spouted containers from the machine.

6. In a machine for securing a preformed spout to a nozzle container ina leak-proof joint, the combination of means for advancing the parts tobe secured to a plurality of operating stations, means for feedingloosely assembled spouts and containers in processional order to saidconveying means, an escapement device for admitting the containers withtheir spouts one at a time into said conveying means, a testing headcooperating with said conveying means for detecting an interruption inthe continuous flow of containers and for stopping the machine at eachinterruption, and joint forming devices disposed at one of said stationsfor engaging and for bending inwardly a nozzle part of said containerand for simultaneously compressing and reshaping the base parts of thespout within such nozzle part to form a tight fitting interlocked joint.

7. In'a machine for securing loosely assembled containers, spouts andcaps in leak-tight sealed condition,'the combination of a carriermember, means for advancing said carrier member to a pluralityofoperating stations, means for feeding the loosely assembled containerparts one assembly at a time to a detecting station adjacent saidcarrier member, means for aligning and centering the container partswhile engaged by said carrier member at one of said stations, deviceseffective at a second operating station for engaging and bendinginwardly a part of the container over the spout while held by saidcarrier member and for simultaneously compressing and reshaping theenclosed part of the spout to provide a tight fitting joint, and a capapplying member operative at another operating station for sealing a capon the spout in a second tight fitting joint while said container isheld by said carrier member, the said operations providing a spoutedcontainer fully sealed.

8. In a machine for securing loosely assembled containers, spouts andcaps in leak-tight sealed condition, the combination of a carriermember, means for advancing said carrier member to a plurality ofoperating stations, means for progressively feeding the looselyassembled container parts to said carrier member, an escapement devicefor releasing one assembly at a time for their reception by said carriermember, a testing head cooperating with and disposed adjacent saidcarrier member for detecting an interruption of container feed to saidcarrier member and thereby operative to stop further feeding when suchinterruption occurs, means disposed at one of said stations for aligningthe container parts, devices located at another of said stations forengaging and bending inwardly a part of the container over the spoutwhile simultaneously compressing and reshaping the enclosed base of thespout to provide a leak-proof joint between container and spout, a capapplying member at another of said stations and cooperating with saidcarrier member for sealing the loosely applied cap on the spout in athreaded connection to provide a leak-proof joint between spout and cap,and. means located at a still further operating station for ejecting thesealed container from said carrier member.

9. In a machine for securing loosely assembled containers, spouts andscrew caps in leak-tight sealed condition, the combination of means forsuccessively advancing and presenting such container parts one assemblyat a time to a series of spaced operating stations, means at one of saidstations for aligning and centering the container parts to be securedwhile held by said advancing means, devices at another of said stationsand including squeezing jaws for engaging and bending inwardly a part ofthe container over the base of the spout while held by said advancingmeans and for supporting the adjacent container part whilesimultaneously compressing and reshaping the enclosed base of the spoutin a tight fitting joint, a cap applying member at another of saidstations and including a ratchet instrumentality for engaging androtating said screw cap on the spout in a second tight fitting jointwhile the container is held by said advancing means, whereby the looselyassembled container parts are converted into a spouted container fullysealed, and means at a still further station for ejecting the sealedcontainer from said advancing means.

10. In a machine for securing loosely assembled relatively soft metalspouts to metal containers in sealed leak-proof joints, the combinationof means for progressively feeding the assembled parts to. a rotatableturret, means for intermittently rotating said turret to successivelyadvance the assembled parts to a plurality of operating stations, meansat one station and cooperating with said turret and including a hollowmember for moving down over a said spout for engaging and centering itwith the vertical axis of its container, and means at another stationand cooperating with said turret for engaging and bending inwardly apart of the container wh le supporting the part against collapse andwhile s multaneously compressing and reshaping the base of the spoutincluded therein, said compressing action causing the soft metal of thespout to flow into tight fitting interlocking engagement with the rebentcontainer wall forming a leak-proof joint and providing a containerhaving a spout permanently sealed therein.

11. In a machine for securing loosely assembled containers and spouts inleakeproof tightly sealed, joints at-a plurality of spaced operatingstations, the combination of a rotatable turret member having spacedpockets therein and provided with means for rotating the same, means forsuccessively feeding the loosely assembled containers and spouts intosaid turret pockets in processional order, means at one operatingstation and cooperating with said turret for detecting thepresence oftwo adjacent containers and operative when one or both containers areabsent to stop the machine operations, devices at another operatingstation and cooperating with said rotating turret for engaging and bend-'15 an interlocking leak-proof

